Water ski and like



Sam, 2%, 1942. c. POMILIO WATER SKI AND LIKE Filed Jan. 5. 1941 (IA R L0 Pony/L i 0 Patented Sept. 29, 1942 WATER SKI AN U LIKE Carlo Pomilio, Rapallo, Italy; vested in the Alien Property Custodian Application January 3, 1941, Serial No. 373,031 In Italy May 28, 1940 2 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improved water ski and generally the invention concerns a floating means for person or persons.

The floating means according to the present invention is, first of all, characterized by the fact that a portion of it is always immersed to support one or more persons by its floating thrust, while the propulsion is obtained from at least two elements controlled by the feet of the person or persons and driven in such a manner that the resistance against the water to the movement in longitudinal direction, of one of such two elements is different from the analogous resistance of the other element.

The floating means according to the present invention is further, preferably, characterized by the fact that such propulsion elements are shaped in such a manner to present, they also have a floating function.

The floating device according to the present invention is at last characterized by the fact that the two propulsive elements are so that when one is more or less immersed the other will be correspondently more or free of the water, whereby when one substantially Water free propulsive element is moved without substantial resistance the other will move backward partly submerged for resistance function. It follows that the connection between the various above mentioned parts can be made by means of rods or levers pivotally mounted or by means of rolling cars sliding or guides or by other suitable means.

The portion always immersed of the main floating body according to the present invention is provided preferably with a rod having a handle-bar for supporting the driver and for controlling a rudder.

In the annexed drawing is shown, by way of example, some embodiments of the object of the invention and particularly Figs. 1 to 3 show respectively in section, in lateral and in frontal views, a first embodiment of the object of the invention; Figs. 4, 5 and 6 show, respectively, in similar views another embodiment. Fig. 7 shows diagrammatically a detail for the application of the drivers feet to the device, Figs. 8 and 9 show in two different positions a detail of the device and Fig. 10 shows in plan, the use of structure for more than one person.

With particular reference to Figs. 1 to 3, the device presents a central or middle floating body I destined to be always sufliciently immersed in the water so as to develop such a floating thrust to be able of supporting the device and the operator. On such floating body are predisposed two vertical pivots 2 on which are mounted arms or links 3 having at their ends holes 4 in which are arranged the pivots 5 which are applied to the two lateral floating propulsive elements 6 and 1. The floating body I is provided with a rod 8 at the upper end of which is arranged a handle-bar 9, while the elements 6 and l are provided with supports II] for the feet, constituted by a set of projections or undulation perpendicular to longitudinal direction of elements 6 and l and destined to receive complementary elements ll fixed on the sole I2 which, by means of binding means 13, is fixed to the foot l of the person. The elements 6 and l are empty to present a floating thrust.

The working of the device is the following: in rest position the pivots 2 and 5 are vertical and elements 6 and 'l have, with regard to element the position indicated in Fig. 1. The flotation is provided by element I; and for propulsion in the direction of the arrow l5 the elements 6 and l v are operated against the resistance of the water. The movement in longitudinal direction, of one of the particular driving elements 6 or 1 utilizes the weight of the person, which will cause reciprocating oscillations in the directions of arrows I6, I! to obtain the greater immersion of the driving element as I and the total or partial water free position of the other element as 6.

To increase the hold of the immersed element on the water, the elements 6 or 1 may, if desired, be formed as indicated at 18 in Fig. 2. Alternately, elements 6 and 1 element 1 may have pivots [9 on which are mounted blades 20 pro-- vided with stops 2| co-operating with stops 22 provided on one or all elements 6, l and l. The blade 20 automatically assumes the resistant position indicated in Fig. 8, or an inactive position indicated in Fig. 9.

The particular construction shown in Fig. '7 for the connection between the operator's feet and elements 6 and 1 permits a ready freeing of the operator in the event of overturning of the structure.

With particular reference to what is illustrated in Figs. 4 and 6, the element I presents an horizontal pivot 23 on which is mounted a vertical pivot 28 in such a manner that it could be able to oscillate alternatively in the direction of the arrow [6 or IT. The cross-member 3 is supported on the pivot 28 and has end floating propulsion elements 6 and I, provided with grooved or toothed elements I0 similar to those before indicated. A rudder 24 is mounted on the end of element l and driven through a bar 25, by cables passing over a pulley 2! mounted on the bar 8.

The operation of this form is similar to that of the form previously described with the exception that, in the present case, the floating main element I does not undergo rotation round its horizontal axis. As apparent, from Fig. 10, the device according to the present invention, can be readily designed for more than one person.

Although for descriptive reasons the present invention has been based on how previously described and illustrated in the annexed drawing, many variations and additions can be brought in the realisation of the invention. For example, providing two auxiliary floats 29 connected with arms 30 to the main floating body I and suitably displaced upwardly the high, destined to counteract any tendency of the structure to capsize. Such tendency would be prevented by the additional thrust exercised by floating auxiliary bodies 29 which are normally inactive.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the present invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:

1. In a water ski or the like, a main buoyant body circular in cross-section, a buoyant propulsion member on each side of the main body, said propulsion members being substantially rectangular in cross-section, said members extending normally beyond both ends of the main body, means connecting the members to the main body to permit movement of the members relative to the body, said means causing movement of either member in one direction to compel movement of the other such member in the opposite direction, foot-receiving means on each member and cooperating foot-carried elements of the operator to engage said foot-receiving means to prevent relative movement of the foot-carried elements in all directions except upwardly.

2. In a water ski or the like, a main buoyant body circular in cross-section, a buoyant propulsion member on each side of the main body, said propulsion members being substantially rectangular in cross-section, with their lower surfaces rounded and normally held to avoid full surface engagement with the water, said members extending normally beyond both ends of the main body, means connecting the members to the main body to permit movement of the members relative to the body, said means causing movement of either member in one direction tocompel movement of the other such member in the opposite direction, foot-receiving means on each member and cooperating foot-carried elements of the operator to engage said foot-receiving means to prevent relative movement of the foot-carried elements in all directions except upwardly.

CARLO POMILIO. 

